Apparatus for electroplating metallic bands



June 18, 1929. J. J. MAscucH APPARATUS FOR ELECTROPLATING METALLIC BANDS Filed July 1, 1927 vllln INVENTOR Y for a eriod of from ten to twenty minutes object is to pass the strip around rollers be-m "UNITED STATES PATEN OFFICE- JOSEPH J. MASCUQH, 01 EAST ORANGE, NEW JERSEY.

APPARATUS FOR ELECTROPLATING METALLIG BANDS.

, Application filed July 1, 1927. Serial No. 202,933.

This invention relates to apparatus for electro-plating metallic bands and has for an object to electro-plate' strip metal by a continuous process, another object is to place the .strip vertically inv the electro-plating vat which may be of considerable depth, another tween the various degrees of plating which prevent the accumulation of hydrogen bubbles and a further object is to heat the strip after the plating operation is completed with a view to fusing the nickel of the plating into the metal of the strip, Other objects of the invention will appear from the following specification and the accompanying drawings, in which, Fig.1, is a schematic plan for carrying out'this process with the vats shown in section, Fig.2 is a form of frame that may be used to support the rollers and Fi 3 shows an electrolated flexible metall1c tube manufactured rom strip produced by this process. g v

The commonpractice in electro-platin is to immerse the object to be plated in the p ating vat connected in circuit with the anode I accor ing to the depth of the plating desired.

In some instances the object is removed at intervals from the vat and reimmersed with the object of producin agitation to remove hydrogen bubbles, ot erwise theobject remains stationary in the vat.

The present invention is for use mainl but not exclusively, on flexible metallic ban s whichare handled on reels. Stock of this .character is'easily handled on-rollers and I i can be taken through the vat by a tortuous above the iquid level of the'vat.

path, being continuously fed from'a reel at one endand delivered to another reel at the other end, the time of the take-up regulating and a com anion row of rollers are rovided he strip ofmetal to be plated is carried up and down in the vat over these rollers by: a continuous movement in a vertical direction. This movement ofthe strip in the liquid produces the necessary agitation, preventing the accumulation of hydro en bubbles or other impurities settling on t e strip. The movement over the rollers. furtheraids "in this direction. Electrical connection is made withfthe strip at one or more of'the exposed rollers.- After terial. If'a polished article is desired, the

strip is passed over polishing rollers and finally wound upon the take-up reel; the entire operation being automatic from 'beginning to end.

Referring to the drawings, 11 is a reel of strip 12, which is directed into the cleaning vat 14 over roller 13 and passes over rollers in this vat which may be filled with any of thewellknown cleaning solutions. On leavmg vat 14 it passes over roller 16 and is engaged by rollers 17 and 18 where it'enters the plating vat 19 filled with the plating solution as in rollers 21 are provided adjacent the bottom of this vat and a companion row 22 are rovided above the'solution. The strip stool: is fed around these rollers as shown with the upper end passing out of the fluid between each pair of rollers.

On leaving the plating vat the stock passes between the rollers 23 and 24 and over the roller 25, through the heating coil26 which is ,electr1cally energized by the circuit 26' into the cooling vat 41, between the polishing rollers 27 and 27 and then to the take upreel' 28 which is driven by the worm 29 andmotor 30. Electrical connections 42 to the strip may be made through one or more rollers correspondingl to 18 or 24. The rollers 18 and 24 icated at 20. A row of porcelain.

. The strip stock, after plating maybe used forany purpose, as for instance, forming;

into metallic tubing Fig. 3 in ridges separated by the spiral groove 33. Tubing formed in'this way is" lated all over'and is' less expensive than p ating after forming into the tube. I 7

Having thus described my invention, I

claim:

1. In an electro-plating apparatus for strip stock as described,the combinatioma plating vat, an integral frame of insulating material havinga' top bar and a bottombar, i

said top bar'engaging the upper edgesof the vat and holding the lower ar suspended in the vat; a. row of rollers on the upper bar and hold the bottom bar suspended in'the vat a 15 row of rollers. on the top bar and a row of a row ofrollers in aligned relation supported by thelower bar, the stock to be plated being passed alternately between the upper and the lower row of rollersand a pair of rollers on the upper bar. for engaging said. stock be integral frame of insulating material having a top bar and a bottom bar, projections on said frame engaging the ,edge of the vat to rollers supported by'the bottom bar, the stock to be plated beingpassed alternately. between the upper and lower rows of rollers and a roller conneetedlwith an'electric supply en'-;

' gaging said stool: as it passes over one of said upper rollers.

3. In electro-plating apparatus for the" continuous electro-plating of strip stock as describet'l; thB'ZCOIDbil'lfltlOD, a plating vat, a framed-insulating material having a top bar and a bottom bar,iprojections on said ar suspen ed in the vat, a row of rollerssu'pported b the to bar and a row of rollers supported y the' ottom bar, the

stockto be lated being continuouslypassed alternately etween the upperand .lower rows frame engaging the ed e of the vat to hold the bottom of rollers anda plurality of rollers connected withan electrical supply engaging said stock is it passes. over opposing rollers in the top JOSEPH J. MASCUCH.

v In testimonywhereof I aflii: my signature A 

